Zakinthos is one of the most beautiful islands of Greece. Unlike the
cycladic islands in the Aegean sea, this Ionian island, situated in
the Adriatic sea, between Greece and Italy, is full of luscious green
vegetation, olive tree gardens, and cypress-tree covered hills.

I visited Zakinthos (known as Zante by our Italian neighbors) with my
sister Maria, in the summer of 2005. We spent a week in beautiful
campground Ratarunga in the hills overlooking the bay, with the most
calm and beautiful sunrises, and evenings under the full moon.
Friendly visitors from all over Europe were sharing the peaceful
campground, playing tavli, sharing dinners, and enjoying the
breathtaking views. Sunsets are best enjoyed from the Kampi side
of the island, seeing the sun disappear into the endless sea, as
literally hundreds of visitors are scattered on the bushy hills,
sharing the spectacle of nature.

The sharp cliffs of the Adriatic side of the island are only
approached by boat, or through near-vertical steep hills, since an
earthquake sank much of them like cut with a knife. We chose both
routes that summer, hiring a boat to go diving, but also driving the
winding roads over the hills and staring at the sea from above,
occasionally diving into its blue-green waters.